HADDSTOCK 2026 WORKSHOPS
We have a wide range of workshops for all ages over the weekend. Music, DJ-ing, art, writing, song-writing, nature, gardening, dragons, monsters…. we hope you find something that appeals!
SATURDAY 30 MAY
Song Writing
SATURDAY, 11am-12.30pm – The Vic upstairs – Suggested donation £5
Come and join members of the North Berwick Songwriters as they share experiences and advice on how to tap into your creative self and write songs to be proud of. The session will be led by Jonny Williams who will help us find out how to stimulate a ‘Whole Brain’ approach to songwriting! Other members of the songwriters group will be on hand to share experiences and provide guidance. Please bring acoustic instruments, there will be a piano keyboard available.
Taming your Random Monsters
Unleash your family’s inner heroes in this 1-hour workshop with Random Monster Table! Designed for kids and their grown-ups, this fast-paced session blends creative art with collaborative roleplay set in the magical world of DaunderMyth. Families will work together to design their own ‘Random Monsters’ – representing big feelings like anger or fear – and then use species-specific powers and ‘Leaves of Hope’ to overcome challenges in a guided adventure. It’s a fun, safe, and high-energy way to build emotional resilience and communication skills through the power of play!
SATURDAY, 11am & 12pm, 1 hour – Memorial Park – FREE
The Love of Wild Things
Come sit under the canopy of the beautiful giant Redwood tree, get creative using colour and mark-making and leave with your own Fantoosh Nature Talisman. A playful, arty happening in Nature with East Lothian sketcher Lynn Fraser (Fantoosh Sketching).
SATURDAY, 1-2pm – Memorial Park – FREE
Nature Rich Gardening
Join founder Debbie for a tour of East Lothian Flower Farm in partnership with East Lothian Climate Hub and learn about no dig systems, pollinators, regenerative farming practices and composting. See examples of natural planting to dissuade pest damage, how flowers are grown and selected as well as how ELFF has evolved alongside locally grown flower farms nationally.
SATURDAY, 11am & 1pm, 1 hr – ELFF, Lennoxlove Walled Garden – £8
Booking: eastlothianflowerfarm.com
Bamff Wildland
Bamff Wildland in Perthshire is a pioneering rewilding project that sits amongst some of Scotland’s best agricultural land. Sophie Ramsay, the manager, will join us to talk about the ecological change so far, political barriers and the emotion brought by witnessing wildness take hold. In partnership with East Lothian Climate Hub.
SATURDAY, 2-3pm – Poldrate, Granary 2nd Floor – by donation
Booking: ticket tailor
East Lothian Climate Hub
The East Lothian Climate Hub exists to upscale action: with our communities, with hope and with practical action. They support communities to carry out action that combats climate change and makes us more resilient. This comes in the form of supporting community food growing, to planting hedgerows to working with schools to landowners. If you want to get involved in the hub, you can do so as an individual through our practical, local projects, or as a community group through our East Lothian Climate Action Network (ELCAN).
At our Haddstock pop-up hub (the Trinity Centre) you can learn easy steps to increase nature in your garden, upcycle old clothes etc.
DISCUSSION: what is possible in East Lothian: Start your Haddstock weekend with understanding what is possible for building a better East Lothian and a better world! Join our East Lothian Climate Hub kickoff event to hear about what action is taking place locally, what is possible and to feed into what you’d like to see happen.
SATURDAY, 9.45-10.45am – Trinity Centre – by donation
Booking: ticket tailor
STALLS & ACTIVITIES: Climate Bazaar: Drop-in to talk and interact with an array of groups & activities around climate. Lil (Lower Impact Living) will show how the circular economy works in textiles and teach practical ways to reuse, repair, and reduce waste every day. Rethink the clothes you wear, upcycle clothes, cycle your way to work or town or learn about how breastfeeding supports the climate.
SATURDAY, 11am-3.30pm – Trinity Centre – FREE
Amisfield Forage
Join Neville Kilkenny on a 90-minute guided walk to explore the many plants and fungi that can be found in hedgerows and woodlands during late spring and learn which ones are considered edible.
SATURDAY, 1.30-3pm – meeting point: Haddington Golf Club – £8
Booking: citizenticket
Author talk: Sara Sheridan SOLD OUT
Join author and activist Sara Sheridan as she talks about historical fiction, women, Scottish stories and her new book, ‘The Jewel Keepers’.
SATURDAY, 11am-12pm – Star room, Library – FREE (ticketed)
Booking: citizenticket
Creative Writing with Manjeet Mann
Join multi award winning author and playwright Manjeet Mann for a creative writing workshop. Learn about the creative writing process and work with Manjeet to develop your own work.
SATURDAY, 12.30pm – Star room, Library – FREE (ticketed)
Age: 14-18. Booking: citizenticket
Dragon Creation with Alastair Chisholm
Join Alastair Chisholm, award-winning author of the Dragon Storm Series for a fun and interactive session where children will work with Alastair to create their own dragons.
SATURDAY, 2pm – Star room, Library – FREE (ticketed)
Age: 8+. Booking: citizenticket
SUNDAY 31 MAY
Traditional Music for Orchestral Instruments
This workshop introduces orchestral instrumentalists to traditional music. Participants will explore how traditional melodies, ornamentation and groove can be adapted for instruments not typically associated with folk traditions. The session will focus on learning a tune by ear, exploring traditional phrasing and ornamentation, and developing ensemble playing in a relaxed and collaborative setting. In partnership with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
Freya Rae is a traditional musician, tune writer and educator based in Edinburgh. She performs widely and has extensive experience leading workshops in schools, and community settings. Her recent album Divergence explores the meeting point between traditional music and orchestral instruments. freyaraemusic.com
SUNDAY, 2-3.30pm – Bridge Centre – FREE
Young people & adults (for those around SQA/grade 5+ level).
Bring your own instrument – if you don’t have one, check out East Lothian Instrument Lending Library
Booking via the brunton.co.uk
Intro to DJ Workshops
In this workshop, you’ll start by choosing and sourcing tracks you love, then learn how to analyse and prepare them on a laptop so they’re ready for mixing. Once your music is organised, you’ll load everything onto a USB and get it set up for use on real DJ decks. Then comes the fun part—hands-on time behind the decks, equipment overview, trying out mixes, experimenting with effects, beatmatching, and putting together your first mini set. In partnership with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
Jess Aslan is a musician and performer specialising in computer assisted music. She’s a Creative Music Practice and AI scholar and a touring professional DJ.
SUNDAY, 10am & 2.30pm, 90 min + 15 min sharing – Bridge Centre – FREE
Age 12+ Max 10 per session so booking essential
Booking via the brunton.co.uk
Intro to Digital Music Making
An introduction to sound production with Ableton live lite with Jess Aslan. Join us for a workshop that looks at the basics of making your own musical tracks with music software live lite!! Whether you’re a musician that already makes your own music or someone totally new to it that is simply interested in having a go, this workshop is appropriate for anyone wishing to open the door to music production of any type. The workshop is aimed at complete beginners, but anyone with any skill level is welcome to join. In partnership with East Lothian Council Arts Service.
SUNDAY, 12.30-2pm – Bridge Centre – FREE
Age 12+
Booking via the brunton.co.uk
Wanderwomen Garden Gathering
Slow down and reconnect with nature in a guided 90-minute mindful garden walk with WanderWomen at Amisfield Walled Garden, ending with an outdoor brew and reflection circle. In partnership with Village Green Gatherings.
SUNDAY, 10.30am – Amisfield Garden – £27.50
Booking: villagegreengatherings
Sunflowers & Biophilic Design
Create your own hessian sunflower while learning about garden and biophilic design with award-winning designer Lynn Hill of Lynn Hill Garden Design. In partnership with Village Green Gatherings.
SUNDAY, 1pm – Amisfield Garden – £15
Booking: villagegreengatherings
The Ancient Order of Free Gardeners of East Lothian
Discover the fascinating story of the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners in an engaging talk by local flowersmith and history enthusiast Ruth Alder. In partnership with Village Green Gatherings.
SUNDAY, 2.3 pm – Amisfield Garden – £12
Booking: villagegreengatherings